The free trade agreement TTIP: What's it all about?

Picture: Jakob Huber (Campact)

In July 2013 the EU and the US have conducted negotiations on a " Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership " (short: TTIP ). It aims to create the largest free trade zone in the world. Together, the two negotiating parties represent almost half of the global economic output.

The agreement should, supposedly, be facilitated the transatlantic trade. The governments of both negotiating parties emphasize the positive effects that the agreement will have on economic growth and jobs. These effects are very welcome, especially in times of crisis.

A study commissioned by the European Commission presents the impact of the agreement. The European economic growth could be increased by up to one percentage point . This would create millions of new jobs. The concrete added value per family would be up to 545 Europs every year. By comparison, the value for American families would even higher and increase up to 865 US dollars per year.

However, the estimates of this study are not based on an independent survey of the currently prevailing situation on both sides of the Atlantic, but were drafted by the European Commission or rather by the Directorate General for Trade itself.

It is therefore reasonable to assume that these numbers only serve to put the TTIP agreement in favorable light. Realistic are numbers that assume a total growth effect starting at around one percent within ten years. Moreover, this growth does not come out of the blue but is rather "diverted" from other world regions. The bottom line is a relatively small welfare gain for the EU and the US at the expense of Africa, Central and South America and Asia.

On top this, the supposed positive economic growth contains serious consequences for democracy, social rights, consumer protection and environmental standards.